Automatic roll-call for telegraph-lines



(No Model.) ZSheets-Sheet 1.

W. P. HARRIS.

AUTOMATIC ROLL CALL FOR TELEGRAPH LINES. No. 280,616. I Patented July 3, 1883.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (No Model.) V

W. P. HARRIS. AUTOMATIC ROLL CALL FOR TELEGRAPH LINES.

Patented July 3, 1883.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM P. HARRIS, OF SOUTH CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC ROLL-CALL FOR TELEGRAPH-LINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 280,616, dated July 3, 1883.

Application filed August 30, 1882. (No model.)

- upon the circuit at stated intervals in order by the answers'to this call to ascertain if all the operators are awake and on duty; and to do this automatically at any desired intervals is the object of my invention; and to this end it consists, mainly, in the combination of a clock mechanism with a device for automatically making and breaking the circuit; and also in certain novel details of construction, which will be hereinafter more fully described.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, referring to the annexed drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a rear elevation of my inven-.

tion; Fig. 2, a similar View of the mechanism for actuating the call-wheel with said wheel removed, and Fig. 3 a side elevation of the same.

Similar letters of reference denote similar parts throughout the several views.

A represents a clock mechanism of any of the well-known forms. This mechanism is secured to a board or back, 13, and upon the rear end of the shaft which carries the hour-' with two arms, 0 c, the first of which projects upward with its end resting against the edge of the cam-Wheel C, and the arm 0 extending at right angles to the other, and held in its highest position by a spring, a, secured to the back B. As both arms are rigidly attached to the rock-shaft, this spring serves also to always keep the arm 0 in contact with the camwheel.

Immediately beneath the frame C is a train of gearing or spring-actuated clock-work, D, upon one shaft of which is a wheel, E, which I term a call-wheel. The periphery of this wheel is provided with a series of projecting teeth, 6 e, of varying width, having spaces 6 between them, which correspond with the dots and dashes of the Morse alphabet, and are arranged in any desired combination to give a specified call when the wheel is re volved. This wheel is near its periphery provided with a beveled-edge opening, 6 as seen in Fig. 1, the purpose of which will be presen'tly' understood.

Pivoted upon the end of a stud, F, secured to the back B, is a small sleeve, F, carrying two arms, G G. The arm G extends out over the side of the wheel E, and has its end bent to enter the spring e" when at rest or bear against the face of the wheel when in motion. The arm G is bent around horizontally, and rests against the face of a wheel, G forming one of the train of gearing D. This wheel is provided with a pin or projection, g, which contacts with the arm G and prevents the operation of the mechanism, the said arms being held in this position by a spring, 9, connecting them with the back B.

H is a rocking bar or lever pivoted upon a stand, H, and having one arm, 71, extended rearward and bearing against the under side of the arm 0, while its other arm is bent and bears outwardly against the arm G. This lever' H is held in this position by a spring, 7L2, as shown in the drawings. I represents a rod hanging from the arm a, passing through a guide, t, and having its lower end in close relation to the periphery of the wheel G as shown. I

K represents a spring secured at one end on a stud, K, and having its other end bearing against the edge of the call-wheel E with a force regulated by the tension-screw under the spring.

P is a wire connecting the spring K with one pole of a battery or one part of an electric circuit, and N is a wire connecting the frame of the mechanism D with the other pole or wire of a circuit.

The operation of this device is as follows:

The mechanism is secured in any convenient location in the main office, and the wires 1? N connected with the main line. If, new, the two clock mechanisms be wound up, the camwheel (J, as it turns with its shaft, will throw out the upper end of the arm 0 and depress the outer end of arm 0. The depression of this latter arm causes the lever H (upon which it rests) to gradually force outward the arms G and G until the latter is free of the stop 9 upon the wheel G which is then free to revolve. The time at which a call is to be made not having yet arrived, however, the stop 9 catches upon the lower end of the rod I, which has been lowered as the arm 0, from which it hangs, is depressed, and the cam 0 still revolves, throwing out the arm G until it is entirely free of the opening 6 in the call-wheel. At this point the arm 0 passes over the end of the cam on wheel 0, and is immediately returned to its first position by the spring a. This withdraws the rod I, and the mechanism D immediately starts, revolving the call-wheel E. During the time the spring K rests against one of the teeth 6, the circuit is closed over wire 1?, spring K, wheel E, mechanism D, and wire N, to the main line, and when the spring is opposite one of the spaces 0 the circuit is broken at that point, the alternate making and breaking of the circuit giving a call over the wires to the different stations. WVhen the wheel E has made a complete revolution, the spring actuated rm G, resting against its face, springs into the opening e and allows the arm G to engage the stop 1 and hold the gearing D at rest until again freed, as just described. The cams upon wheel 0 may of course be arranged to give one, two, or more calls every hour, as may be desired. The answers to the call may come in over the same wires; but in case the main line should be in use for other purposes, I attach to the clock ing over the cam, the connection is complete, and all messages sent over this circuit pass through the mechanism just described; but when the arm 0 rests upon the insulating-point f this is cut out, and the answers are recorded only through the receiver. During the night, the clock and call mechanism is thrown into the main line, and all messages over the line pass through the mechanism. The call having been sent, the answers are all received upon a recorder or printer located in a branch circuit over the wires 1) d. The main line being through the cam-wheel and the lever that rests upon it, an insulating-point in this wheel, upon which the lever lies for, say, live minutes after a call, will break the main line through the call-wheel and compel the current to pass through the recorder. At the end of the five minutes, the lever having passed the insulation and again contacted with the metal camwheel, the circuit is again completed through the call-wheel till another call is given.

It is obvious that this device may be secured in a main offiee in any convenient position, and may be inclosed' in a case in the face of which the clock-dial may show.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. I11 a telegraphic circuit, the clock-work A, provided with a cam-wheel, O, in combina tion with a rock-shaft, 0 having arms 0 c, lever H, and arms G G, adapted to hold a call mechanism in a state of rest and start it at stated intervals, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination, in a branch circuit, of the rock-shaft 0, having arms 0 c, cam-wheel 0, provided with insulations ffon its periphcry, with the clock-work A, and conductingwires 1) d, substantially as shown and described.

3. An automatic telegraphic call arranged in a circuit to be operated at stated intervals, consisting, essentially, of the clock-work A and cam-wheel 0, connected by intervening mechanism, with an automatically-operated call-wheel, E, having its periphery notched to 9 make or break the circuit by contact with a spring, K, all constructed and arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose Set forth.

I11 testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

IVM. I. HARRIS.

Vitnesses:

WV. 0. McARTHUR, FRANK J OHNSON. 

